Mining sulfur.



H. FRASGH.

MINING SULFUR.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.30,1903.

Patented Apr. 11

- UNITED sTATEsgPATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN FRASCH, OF

NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE FRASCH SULPHUR PROCESS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MAINE. l

MINING SULFUR.

l. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 11, 1911.I

Application led'Ootober 30, 1903. vSerial No. 179,234.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known hthat I, HERMAN FRASCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, borough of Manhattan, and county ofvNew York, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mining Sulfur, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to the obtainment of sulfur from underground deposits by melting vsulfur therein and removing it therefrom in the melted state; but each of the improvements constituting the'invention is intended to be secured for all the uses to which it, with or without modification, may be adapted. On October 20, 1891, I obtained patents (461,429 and 461,430) on this form of minl ing. As the best means thenknown to me for melting the sulfur in the deposit, I described the circulation through-the deposit of a fusing iuid (hot water under pressure), such fluid being introduced into the deposit and afterward returned to the surface of the ground. Subsequently I discovered that it was much more practical, inthe case of a waterflooded porous deposit, to introduce the 'fusing fluid (hot water) 4without return, the fluid beingcaused to flow away underground.

In working with or without return of fusing iuid the fluid lwas introduced into the deposit at a temperature at which sulfur is liquid. The temperature of 280 F. is mentionedin said patents by way of example (the claim not being limited thereto) afterward I discovered that it was very advantageous to have a temperature above 300 F., at least in working without return. The advantage ofV this high temperature arose from the naturally present water; which, indeed, caused much unexpected difficulty. The present invention seeks, for one object, to utillze this naturally present water as part of the fusing liquid, by raising its temperature to above the melting point of sulfur. To accomplish this a heating fluid (liquid or aeriform) is introduced into the deposit at a temperature, not only above the melting oint of sulfur, but above its limit of lique action, or, in other words, so far above the said melting point as that melted sulfur is or begins to be pasty thereat; and

speak) mingles with the naturally present water, the resultant mixture is brou ht to a temperature at which sulfur is iquid. Live steam is considered the most advantageous fluid, for one reason, on account of' the large quantity of heat which can be carried thereby through a pipe of given size, owing to its aeriform condltion, to the large amount of heat stored therein as latent heat of vaporization and to its condensation in the deposit. Moreover, the Vformation of live steam seems'to be the most convenient and economical way of taking u heat from fires.' Other fusing fluids can be used in- 'steadof live steam, as, for example, water heated, by condensation of live steam there-v in or by other means, above the limit of liquefaction of sulfur, as aforesaid.V

In using live steam it is not ,essential that it should enter the de osit in thev aeriform state; for it may su er condensation on its way thereinto', with or without assistance from water introduced into the same piping or into piping of the same well; butl it is believed to be better to have the steam itself enter the deposit ,and be condensed therein afterescaping from the inlet pipe.

In carrying out the preceding general process, it isconsidered best to introduce the uid heated to above the liquefaction limit of sulfur through one well and to raise the melted sulfur through another; for one reason, because in this way the operations of melting and raising may take placeJ concurrently. And it is also considered advantageous to introduce into the underground deposit at the sulfur-raising well, water heated above the melting point of sulfur and not above its limit of liquefaction. Moreover, so far as I am aware, it is new in general to introduce a fusing fluid into a deposit at one well in order to melt sulfur to be raised at another; and this process is included in the invention when said fusing fluid is introduced into the deposit at or below the limit of lquefaction of sulfur, as well as when its temperature is above said limit.

The following is a description of what is considered the best mode of carrying the invention` into effect, with steam as e fusin iuid of a temperature above the lique action limit of sulfur, and with the aid of a raising well which is utilized also for the'introduction of hot water at or below said liquefaction limit; but it will be understood that other' fusing fluids can be used and that modifications in other respects also can be made so long as the substance is taken of any one or more of the hereinafter written claims. I

The accompanying drawing, which forms part of this specification, is a diagram of what is considered the best form'of apparatus for carrying the invention into effect, but any suitable apparatus can be used.

In the raising wellshown, the mine piping for conveying the hot water to the deposit consists of an outer p ipe 1n telescoping sectionsl and an inner pipe. The lower section a of the outer hot water plpe rests upon the rock in or below which the sulfur deposit is. Theupper section b of the same is provided with a casing head c and telescopes with the lower. section. It is supported by a clamp d, which rests directly orv indirectly on the top of the ground. It may be about 40 feet long. f

` Between the two sections is a packing to prevent the passage of water. It is best made after the manner of a stuffing boX, with a part e in the form' of a ring screwed on the top of the-lower section and a follower f in the-form of a ring adjustably held against the packing g by means of nuts la on the ends of bolts j whose lower ends are anchored in the body of the part e.

The inner hot water pipe 7c isl suspended from the clamp m, which is upheld by feet resting on the casing head. The sulfur pipe n has a collar p near the bottom which rests upon the pipe closure or plug g inthe interior of the water pipe le, the lower end of the sulfur pipe projecting into the strainer 7' at the bottom of the water pipe k. .The plug g normally separates the strainer from the bore of the water pipe,

but, when the sulfur pipe is lifted out, `the water from the pipe lc can enter the strainer and clear its perforations.

Instead of allowing the-hot water to escape immediately above the strainer r, the discharge (composed of openings s) is placed higher up, in order to diminish .the liability of the water getting into the sulfur pipe. In order, however, to insure'the liquid condition of the sulfur below said 'discharge s, the bore of the water pipe is extended below said discharge s and is returned yupon itself. -This return bend or passage is best made by a partition t in the -water pipe 7c, which partition is. annular as shown and has a flange at the top and perforations at the bottom. The water passes down between the sulfur pipe n (which is here preferably reduced in diameter as shown) and the annular partition t, out through the perforations,` in the partition, up between the annular partition tand the 4numbered 799,642 and wall of water pipe Zcand out through the openings s into the mine cavity.

The pipe Q0 delivers compressed air into .c

the melted sulfur', so that the average density ofthe column is lessened sufficiently for the pressure in themine to force the melted sulfur to the surface of the ground.

At 5 is shown` a valved hot water pipe,

water pipeinto theupper part of the mine 1 cavity. j

At 7 is the branch through which hot water is supplied to the inner hot water pipe 7c, whose discharge s is near the bottom of the mine cavity.

The hot water descends through the pipes a and c, and flows out into the deposit until it is lost in underground recesses; while the sulfur melted thereby collects about the open bottom of pipe n (which it seals against ingress of water) and is raised to the surface'of the ground by th`e"pressure in the deposit, the average density,- of the sulfur column being suitably lightened by the air which is injected into and mingles with the melted sulfur.

There is nothing in the construction and operat-ion of the raising well, as so far described in connection with the drawing, which has not already been patented or made the subject of applications for patents.

See my patents of October 20, 1891, Nos.

461,429 and 461,430,already mentioned; my application of May 27, 1897, No. 638,357, with the divisions thereof, and'm' applications of even date herewith, Nos. l 9,232 and 179,233. "Ihe divisions ofk my said application of May 27, 1897, lconsist of'an application of November 23, 1903, No. 182,359, and

two applications of February 6, 1905, Nos.

244,508 and 244,510, No. 244,508 being in part only for divisional subject-matter, that is to say for matter found in my said application of May 27 1897, and being consequently in part only in continuation thereof. On September 19, 1905,

800,127 were granted on my said application of May 27, 1897, and its said division of November 23, 1903. On

patents respectively July 13,1909, patent numbered 928,036 was v granted on my said application 244,508. i On November 12, 1907, patent numbered 870,620 was granted'on my said application 179,232; and on December 6, 1910, patent numbered 97 7 ,444 was granted on my said application 179,233. A raising well, with or without means for introducing a fusing fluid through the same, of any suitableydescription could be used for carrying out the present invention.- See, for example, my said patents and prior applications. l

At such distance from the raisingwell as not to heat the sulfur to be raised above its limit of liquefaction, say, at a distance ofl about twenty feet, more or less, a melting well is shown. As shown, it consists of a mine pipe in telescoping sections, the lower section 10 resting on the rock (through which a hole may be drilled in continuation of the pipes bore) and the upper section 11 being held by a support112 which rests directly or .indirectly on the surface of the ground. The lower section passes through a stuffing box on the lower end of the upper section; and the upper section is shown weighted with an annular tank 8, which resists thev tendency of the pressure inside of said upper section to lift the same. It may be filled with water or other weight-giving material. As shown, it rests on the support 12 and is bolted to a flange 14 of a coupling which receives the lower end of pipe section 11 and which carries the stationary part of the stuliing box. )A pipe ldelivers live steam to the pipey section 11;and Vas the upperend of the lower section 10 is onen the steam passes down the same to the deposit.

The steam should have sutiicient ressure to force itself into the deposit against the pressure of the Water naturally present therein. In the de osit which I have encountered, lying as 1`t does between six hundred vand seven hundred feet below the surface of the ground, the pressure of the naturally present water is about three hundred pounds to the square inch 4above atmospheric pressure. The steam should have a pressure enough higher than this to produce-the desired flow, so that it would be much above the'limit of liquefaction of sulfur. At three hundred pounds pressure, steam would have a temperature of about 422 F., at which temperature, as is known, sulfur is so pasty that it does not flow.

The steam condenses inthe deposit, heating the naturally present water and mixing therewith to form a body of hot water above the melting point of sulfur and below its limitfof liquefaction. This water melts the sulfur with which it comes in contact; and the melted sulfur (in whole or in part, as the case may be) collects in the pool which forms about the lower -end of the pipe 11., up which it is raised by the pressure in the deposit, aided by the lightening of the average density of the sulfur column in said pipe by the air from the pipe lw.

It isprobable that the naturally present water would at first be heated to above the limit of liquefaction of sulfur; but, if so, its temperature would be reduced in traveling away from the pipe 10. After its temperature has fallen below the meltin point of sulfur, it aids in warming the roc at or beyond the borders of the melting space.

Should it be desired to induce a greaterI flow from the melting well (that is, `,the

-well constituted by the pipe 10) to the-rais ing well (of which a sulfur-raising pipe, to

wit, the pipe n, as shown, is the essential' feature) water may be allowed to rise through said well. say, through either or both the pipes a b and c, the same being held under pressure to prevent vaporization thereof.

The pressure of the steam introduced through the pipe 10 of the melting well would naturally vary with the pressure of the water naturally resent in the deposit. Possibly a deposit exists in ,which the pressure in the deposit would be so-low, .that the temperature of steam of 'corresponding pressure would be between the melting point and liquefaction limit of sulfur. In

such case, should it be desired to use a fusf ing Huid abovethe liquefaction limit vof sulfur, the steamy might be superheated; and so it -might when the temperature corresponding with its pressure is above said limit. 1

The pipe 10 could be used to introduce any suitable fusing fluid, of any desired temperature, above the melting point of sulfur. As many melting wells as desired can be used to one raising well; or conversely there may be as many raising wells as desired to one melting well. The'same well might serve alternately for melting by the aid of a fusing fluid heated above the liquefaction limit of sulfur and for raising the so melted lon further heating becomes pasty; the temperature at which it first melts is herein referred to as its melting point; the temperature at which Ion furt-her heating it be- .gns to be pasty is herein referred to as its liquefaction limit or limit of liquefaction. In order to mine a material, this latter must be broughtV to the surface of the ground; hence ithe expression mining by fusion in'the hereinafter written claims includes the removal of the mined material as well as the fusion of the same underground.

I elaim as my invention or discovery: n

1. In mining sulfur by fusion, the improvement consisting in introducing into an underground sulfur deposit fusing fluid of a temperature above the degree at which melted sulfur begins to be pasty when further heated, and raisingiin a melted state 5' melted by the aid naturally flooded With Water fusing-fluid of aV temperature above the degree at' which melted sulfur begins to be pasty when further heated, aiid raising ina melted statethe y sulfur which becomes melted by the aid of` heat conveyed into the deposit by said fluid, substantially as described.

3. In mining sulfur by fusion, the improvement consisting in introducing into an underground sulfur deposit through the piping of one Well fusing fluid of a temperature above the degree atvvhich melted sulfur begins to be pasty when further heated, and raising in a melted state through piping of another Well the sulfur which becomes melted by the aid of heat conveyed into the deposit by said fluid, substantially as described. y `A 4. In mining by fusion, the improvement consisting in introducing fusing fluid into an underground deposit through piping of one Well, and raising in a melted state through piping of another Well material Which becomes melted by the aid of heat conveyed into the depositby said fluid, s ubstantially as described.

5. In mining sulfur `by fusion, the improvement consisting in introducing into an underground deposit through different Wells fusing fluids of different temperatures, namely, through one Well fusing fluid of a temperature above the degree at which melted sulfur begins to be pasty when further heated and through another Well fusing fluid of a temperature below the lastmentioned degree but above the melting point of sulfur, and raising in a melted state through the last mentioned Well the sulfur which becomes melted by the aid of heat conveyed into the deposit by said fluids, substantially as described. v

6. In mining by fusion,.the improvement consisting in introducing fusing fluid through piping of different Wells, and raising in a melted state through piping of less than the whole number of said wells the material which becomes melted bythe aid of heat conveyed into the deposit by the fusing fluid from all said Wells, including such as shall serve for raising the meltedl material, substantiallyl as described.

7. In mining sulfur by fusion, the improvement consisting in introducing into an underground sulfur deposit steam of a temperature above the degree at which melted sulfurbegins to be pasty when further heated, and raising the melted sulfur, substantially as described. c

8. In mining sulfur by fusion, the improvement consisting in introducing into an underground sulfur deposit 11i porous rock p naturally flooded .with Water steam of a temperature above the degree at Whichv melted sulfur begins to be pasty When further heated, and raising the melted sulfur, substantially as described. v

9. In mining sulfurJ by fusion, the improvement consisting in supplying to mine piping steam of a'temperature above the degree at Which melted sulfur begins to be pasty when further heated, thereby introduc'- ing fusing fluid of a temperature above such last mentioned degree into the underground sulfur depositA to which said piping-leads, and raising as described.

10. In miningsulfurby fusion,the imv pi'ovement consisting in supplying to mine piping which leads to an underground sulfur deposit infporou's rock naturally flooded With Water steam of a temperature vabove thel degree at which melted sulfurA begins to be' pasty When further heated, thereby introducing fusing fluid of a temperature above such last mentioned degree into the 4underground sulfur deposit-to which.saidpipingleads, and raising the melted sulfur, substantially as described.

the melted sulfur, substantially 11. In mining sulfur by fusiomthe improvement consisting in introducing into an underground sulfur deposit containing Water of a temperature belowgthe'degree. at which melted sulfur begins to' be pasty When l'further heated fusing fluidV of a temperature above such last mentioned 'de ee, and raising the melted sulfur, substantially as described.

12. In mining sulfur by fusion, the improvement consisting in introducing into an underground sulfur deposit containing Water ,of a temperature below the degree at which melted sulfur begins to YV be pasty when further heated steam of atemperature above such last mentioned degree, and,rais ing the melted sulfur, lsubstantially as described. v l

13. In mining sulfur by fusion, the improvement consisting in introducing through one Well into a Water flooded and porous underground deposit of sulfur steam of a temperature above the degree at which melted'sulfur begins to be pasty when further heated, and'raising the melted sulfur through 'another Well, substantially as described.

14. In mining sulfur by fusion, theimprovement consisting in introducing through one Well into an underground sulfur deposit steam of a temperature above the degree aty which meltedsulfur begins lto be pasty when further heated, introducing water of a temperature below vsuch'last mentioned degree and above the-melting point l 1GO consisting in introducing of sulfur through another well in suitable proximity to receive sulfur melted bygheat which said steam supplies, and raising-` the melted sulfur through this latter well, substantially as described.

15. In mining by fusion, the improvement steam into a: deposit of the fusible material being'mined containing water of lower temperature under a pressure greater than the vaporvtension of water of the temperature at which said material is melted in said deposit, so that the steam becomes condensed in said deposit, substantially as described.

16. In mining by fusion, the improvement VVAconsisting in introducing steam into a deposit of the fusible material being mined containing water of lower temperature under a pressure greater than the vapor tension of water of the temperature at which said material is melted in said deposit,- so that the steam becomes condensed in said deposit, and raising the melted material, substantially as described.

17. In mining by fusion, the improvement consisting in introducing steam at one well into a deposit containing water at lower temperature, and raising the melted material through -another well, substantially as described.

18. In mining by fusion, the improvement consisting in introducing steam at one well into a deposit, introducing hot water through another well into said deposit, and raising the melted material through the latter well, substantially as described.

' therein 19. In mining sulfur' by fusion, the improvement consisting in introducing steam into an underground deposit at a temperature above the degree at which melted sulfur begins to be pasty when further heated and under a. `pressure greater than the vapor tension of water of the temperature at which the sulfur is melted in said deposit, so .that the steam becomes condensed in said deposit as well as reduced in temperature below the degree at which melted sulfur begins to be pasty as aforesaid, substantially as described. v

20. In mining by fusion, the improvement consisting in introducing steam into an underground deposit ata temperature above the melting point of the material being mined and under a pressure greater than the vapor tension of water of the temperature at which the material is melted in said deposit, so that the steam becomes condensed in said deposit, substantially as described.y

21.' In mining by fusion in porous deposits, the improvement consisting in introducing'steam into an underground deposit at atemperature above the melting pressure greater than the vaportension of water of the temperature at which the material is melted in said deposit, so that the steam becomes condensed in said deposit, and confining the greater part of the water of condensatwn to the deposit, so that it is forced to flow away underground, substantially as described.

22. In mining sulfur in porous deposits by fusion, the improvement consisting in introducing into such deposit a fusing fluid of a temperature above the degree at which melted sulfur begins to be pasty when fur ther heated, and causing the reater part of said fluid to flow away 1n liquld state underground, substantially as described.

23. In mining by fusion, the improvement consisting in introducing into an underground deposit through the piping of one well a fusing fluid which has in the deposit the form of hot water, and raising in a melted state through piping of another well material which becomes melted by the aid of heat conveyed into the deposit by said fluid, substantially as described.

24. In mining by fusion, the improvement consisting in introducing fusing fluid into an underground porous deposit through piping of one well, causing the fluid in greater part to flow away underground, and raising the melted material through piping 'of another well, substantially as described.

F. W. LOTHMAN, J. C. Urnnonovn.

oint 4 -of the material being mined and un er a 

